Brown terminated an $84,000 no-bid contract with Sahl Communications in April to avoid a lawsuit filed by Barron, who claimed Brown violated county procedures by approving the deal. In May, the administration advertised a request for bids for a public relations consultant, and Brown awarded a $76,500 contract to Sahl Communications Thursday afternoon.

"We're very pleased to be working back with the county again," said Sahl Communications President Kim Plyler. "We are looking forward to helping out with their public relations, media relations and internal communications effort."

But Barron said the latest contract award is still illegal, claiming Brown is breaking the contract into one-year portions to avoid oversight from Northampton County Council. Contracts of more than $100,000 must be approved by council.

"John has done everything possible to circumvent county council on this," Barron said.

Brown did not return requests for comment.

Barron also said the contract is illegal because the duties being tasked to Sahl Communications belong to the director of administration, who must be nominated by the executive and approved by council. The position is vacant after members of Northampton County Council rejected Cathy Allen, the current deputy director of administration, for the post.

"He's trying to avoid the checks and balances that council is trying to put in place," Barron said.

Members of the council's Democratic minority have publicly criticized Brown for seeking a communications consultant, while claiming at the same time the county is financially strapped.

According to Thursday's executive order, Sahl Communications and Brian Communications, out of Philadelphia, were the only two bidders. The terms of the bids were not up for public review because the Sahl Communications contract is not yet finalized, according to county officials.